“Since ya saw me last, ya mean?” She smiled.
“There’s that spunk again.” He winked at her. “So, what did ya do this afternoon?” He seemed eager to know as he opened the sack and offered her some sugar cookies, still warm.
“Well, I helped mend and sew, since it’s Wednesday, ya know. Does your Mamma mend midweek, too?”
“Jah. Does your Mamm back home?”
“Her daily chores are similar to my aunt’s, jah.” She took a bite of the moist cookie. “Ooh, are these ever delicious. How’d ya get them out of the house without bein’ seen?”
“I asked if I could have some extras is all,” he told her, a grin on his handsome face.
“Some extras.” She stifled a giggle. “Ain’t you a case!”
“Well, I figured you’d want some, and I was right.”
She looked away; his gaze had become too intense. Clearly, he was attracted to her, and there was no doubt how she felt, either.
Eb mentioned that his family was having a special birthday celebration for him next week. “I’m turnin’ eighteen and wish you could be there, but I know it ain’t possible because you ain’t traditional Amish,” he said quietly.
“Jah, our church broke away from the Old Order, my Dawdi told me.”
“Well, let’s not talk ’bout that,” he said, looking at her with soft eyes. “I just wanted you to know that my birthday wish would come true, Eliza, if we could celebrate together.”
She thought carefully before replying. “Well, I’m sorry I can’t be there, and it would be nice to get to know your family. But like ya said . . .” Suddenly, as she was speaking, she felt terribly sad that their friendship could never move forward.
“Will ya write me a birthday note and put it in the wall for me to find?”
At that, she smiled. “I could do that, jah. What day’s your birthday?”
“A week from today, Wednesday, July twenty-first.”
It was so quickly decided that it seemed easy compared to her repeated deliberation of the past few days about replying to his note.
“Are ya all right with that?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”
Eb chuckled. “Do ya get your Schpank from your Dat or your Mamma?”
“Both.”
He asked if her siblings were as spunky as she was.
“A couple of them are, but Mamma always said the Good Lord must’ve thought I needed more pluck than the others.”
“I like that.” Eb looked up at the sky just then, his head back for a moment. “A real nice evening, ain’t?”
She agreed and told him she really shouldn’t be out too late.
“Doesn’t your aunt retire early, though?” he asked, a seeming urgency now in his words.
“Jah, but if she wakes up and needs something, and I’m not home . . .”
“So, we’ll have to talk fast,” he said, looking at her. “Make as much of our time together as possible.”
“As friends.”
“Friends,” he repeated.
She asked what kind of cake he was hoping for on his birthday, and he immediately said German chocolate. “The darker the chocolate, the better,” he said, and she made a note of that for no particular reason.
“Will all of your siblings and their families come to celebrate?” She tried to imagine the gathering.
“I’m sure they will. And Mamm will want to have it outside in the evening, after the sun drops in the sky a bit. Prob’ly a picnic supper with fried chicken and all the fixings she’s so gut at makin’.”
“Sounds wunnerbaar. I’m real happy for ya.” Eliza got up and brushed the grass off her dress, saying she’d best be going.
Eb rose quickly, too. “Seems like we just got here.”
“I’m not sure why we’re doin’ this, Eb,” she blurted without thinking. “Meetin’ like this . . .”
“Maybe ’cause we’re s’posed to be friends,” Eb said, moving toward her.
She stepped back. “But only friends, remember.”
He pushed his hands into his trouser pockets. “Jah.” Then he insisted on walking her partway back to her aunt’s place.
“Well, if you’re sure,” she said, secretly glad he wanted to see her home for at least a little ways. But she did not want to think too far ahead, when she and Eb might see each other again.
Chapter 37
August plodded into September, and the shorter days turned cooler as the weeks passed. Anna saw Mart occasionally—he seemed to prefer doubling up with another couple or spending time with the church youth group to outings with just the two of them. One of those times, they drove to the Green Dragon in Ephrata to walk around and eat kettle corn. Anna purchased a bag to take home to Glen and Sadie as a treat. She also enjoyed stopping at Newswanger’s Sausage for homemade sausage sandwiches, attending the small animal auction, and visiting Beulah’s Candyland and Lapp Valley Farms Ice Cream.
On the days and evenings she spent at home with Sadie, Anna continued to help make the cheer-up cards for market; they had become very popular from just word of mouth. Occasionally, Anna had also taken care of Baby Jimmy next door while Marianna and her sisters had prepared the main farmhouse for the Preaching service they’d hosted Sunday.
Friday mornings were kept solely for Anna’s time with Emmie. She relished reading to and playing with the little girl from around ten o’clock until Gabe finished up in his woodworking shop at noon and walked Emmie over to Barbara’s, where the two of them ate their noon meal while Anna left to have her own dinner with Glen and Sadie.
It had become a favorite ritual for Emmie to sit on the back porch steps waiting for Anna to arrive. Then, together, they would walk over to the tree house, where Bootsie, Emmie’s white tomcat, would sometimes amble over to join them. Hoping to encourage Emmie to talk, too, Anna would talk to the handsome feline, whose paws were as black as if it had walked through ink. Anna also recalled how Emmie seemed to relax whenever Anna talked to Promise—maybe the little girl appreciated having attention directed away from her and toward the animal.
“I think Bootsie’s happy today,” Anna said after arriving this fourth Friday in September. “He’s looking at ya, Emmie. Want to pet him?” Anna stroked the cat’s tummy when he turned over onto his back. She laughed softly and glanced at Emmie in her little black coat and black outer bonnet. “See, like this,” she said, hoping Emmie might join her. “Bootsie likes to be stroked as much as Promise does.” She waited and wondered if that might encourage Emmie to mimic her.
Slowly, cautiously, Emmie reached over to pet his tummy with Anna, Bootsie’s purring rumbly and strong now. Pleased that Emmie had copied what she was doing, Anna touched the back of Emmie’s hand. “Anna likes Emmie, too,” she said softly.
Emmie looked at her shyly but turned her attention back to Bootsie.
Later, when the cat got up and padded away, Anna showed Emmie the picture book she’d brought from the library, An Amish Christmas, written by Richard Ammon. “This is a story about a boy and his sister celebrating Christmas,” Anna told her. “Let’s go up and sit in the tree house to read it,” she said, leading the way.
Emmie followed and climbed up the short ladder, taking a seat next to her on the wood floor.
The Friday before, Emmie had chosen to sit farther away for their story time, but each week, she moved noticeably closer. Anna’s hope was for Emmie to someday sit right beside her while she read, without any prompting. I believe it will happen, she thought while reading aloud and showing Emmie the beautiful illustrations. At one point, she noticed Emmie lean forward suddenly to look closely at the page where the children’s parents rode with them in the sleigh.
Anna also made a practice of talking with Emmie about their heavenly Father and His loving care for all of God’s children, including Emmie and her Dat. And when she did, Anna fixed her gaze on Emmie . . . and Emmie smiled.
As usual, Gabe was just a shout away, busy drafting plans and working in
his woodworking shop. Considering that she wasn’t traditional Amish, Anna was still surprised at Gabe’s trust of her with his daughter.
Today, however, Anna noticed Gabe walk over to the well pump and draw water to wash his hands. Unexpectedly, Emmie’s eyes met hers, as if to say she’d seen her father there. “Do you want to go down to him?” Anna asked.
Emmie shook her head no.
Anna tried not to react, but inside, she was thrilled. Emmie had responded! Oh, Anna wanted to clap her hands, but she knew better than to frighten Emmie.
Anna tested the waters again. “Are ya sure you don’t want to go down the ladder and see your Dat?”
Again, Emmie shook her head, her eyes focused on Anna.
“Okay, we’ll keep reading, then.” Anna could hardly wait to tell Gabe.
Bootsie came up to them again, flopped down near Emmie, and rolled over, all four paws in the air.
Anna laughed at the silly cat. “I think Bootsie wants you to pet him again.” She watched, wondering if Emmie might reach over and stroke his tummy as before.
Emmie didn’t even look at the cat.
“Let’s finish the book and maybe Bootsie will listen, too,” Anna suggested.
Emmie surprised Anna again by nodding her head.
Hoping to take some of the pressure off the girl, Anna said, “Well, Bootsie, you’ve missed out on some of this wunnerbaar-gut story, but here’s what’s happened so far.” She laughed a little, hoping Emmie wouldn’t be confused and think her cat actually understood the story. But she was on to something, because as Anna was reading, Emmie slowly reached over and began to lightly pet Bootsie’s back as the tomcat slept now on his side there with them in a pool of sunlight.
Trying to keep her voice from cracking with emotion, Anna could hardly contain herself. A breakthrough! she thought, turning to the next page. What a perfect day!
———
When Emmie went into her room for a moment, Anna shared with Gabe in the kitchen how she’d very clearly replied to questions with nods and shakes of her head.
“That’s great news!” he exclaimed, his smile spreading wide. He stepped closer. “And I have you to thank, Anna. I mean that.”
“Well, whatever’s making her feel comfortable enough to respond today, I’m very happy she’s doing it.” Anna placed the picture book on the counter. “In case you’d like to read it to her again,” she said, mentioning it was due back at the library a week from tomorrow, so she would return it then.
“I’ll do that,” Gabe said, still grinning. “You’re a teacher at heart, ain’t?”
“Maybe it goes hand in hand with being a tour guide.” She felt a bit awkward at the warmth in Gabe’s expression as he looked at her. “Emmie’s so easy to be with,” she added.
He nodded thoughtfully. “But she definitely has a preference for you, Anna.”
“And I enjoy her, too,” Anna said, gathering up her things and slipping on her coat. “Very much.”
“Say, I was wonderin’ if ya might join Emmie and me for dinner at Barbara and Aden’s next Friday noon. Barbara’s been askin’ to have ya over again.”
Ach no, Anna thought, thinking of how complicated it might make things if he was actually interested in her. Don’t ask me!
But his endearing smile made her want to take the risk. “It would be nice to see Barbara again, and to meet Aden, too,” she said, emphasizing their presence.
Gabe had never before walked with her out to the car, but he did this time.
Chapter 38
That afternoon, Anna sat down at Sadie’s kitchen table and wrote her weekly letter to her Mamm while Baby Jimmy slept in his Pack ’n Play and Sadie was over at her sister Eva’s. Anna wanted to write to her mother about little Emmie and her budding connection with her and her father. But she was careful how she worded things, lest Mamm misunderstand. Anna also mentioned the invitation for dinner with the Allgyers this Friday, October fifth, at Emmie’s uncle and aunt’s up the road. They’re God-fearing, wonderful people, she wrote in the letter, and I think you’d like them as much as I do. You and Dat both.
Anna planned to tell Sadie, as well, so she wouldn’t set a place for her at the noon meal that day. Continuing on with her letter, Anna wrote about her activities with Mart and his delightful Mennonite friends, making a point to be clear that she still saw the handsome young man now and then.
The sun cast slanting lines across the wide-plank floor, and the sound of buzzing bees came through the nearby open window as Sadie sat with Eva in the sunny bedroom just off the front room. As she read aloud to her sister several comforting psalms, she realized yet again that the poor dear did not even recognize her.
The thought crossed Sadie’s mind that it really didn’t matter, because this time together was about being there for her sister and letting her know that she cared.
This ain’t about me, Sadie thought, sitting there in the rocking chair while Eva dozed propped up in bed. It’s about giving the kind of love anyone would yearn for from a sibling, whether they know who you are or not.
A few days later, Anna’s Mamm called, sounding anxious.
“I received your letter,” she said as Anna, seeking more privacy, settled into a white wicker chair on the front porch. “Sounds like you’re spending a lot of time with that Amishman and his daughter.”
Anna sighed and braced herself for what could be an unpleasant call. “I’m helping little Emmie,” she said politely. “And she’s beginning to respond to me, Mamm. I’m truly happy about that.”
“It’s not the child that concerns me” came her mother’s prickly words.
“Well, rest assured that Gabe and I are merely friends. And I’m not there to spend time with him.”
“But friendship is where things begin,” Mamm replied. There was an awkward pause before she continued. “Honestly, Anna, I didn’t think the need to tell you this would ever arise, but it seems like it’s time. You see,” she said, her voice momentarily faltering, “my mother was a very young woman—just turning sixteen—when she went to Strasburg. And while she was there, she met an Old Order fellow. They were supposedly ‘just friendly,’ as you might say. But there was more to the story.”
“So, Mammi fell for a traditional Amishman?” Anna had rather suspected the beau had been Old Order, but hearing it directly from her mother still took her aback.
“Fortunately, it was short-lived, and no one really knows what happened to bring it to an end.” Mamm sighed. “Your Mammi Eliza’s mother revealed this to me a long time ago, as a warning.”
Solemn as Mamm sounded just now, Anna knew it wasn’t a good idea to ask for more information.
“Remember how, before you left home, your father cautioned you about not getting mixed up with someone outside our community like this?” Mamm asked. “Anna, I urge you not to turn your back on the Light you’ve been blessed with. Knowing we’re saved by grace through faith is essential . . . it’s not only about good deeds, I’m sure ya know.”
Anna knew her parents were trying to protect her, and while she understood their reasons for that, she felt reined in, too.
“Your Mammi Eliza wasn’t herself for quite some time after returning from Strasburg. Such relationships can only lead to heartache.”
No matter what I’ve said, she doesn’t believe Gabe and I are simply friends, Anna thought, not knowing how to respond, except to repeat what she’d already said.
Mamm suddenly mentioned needing to check on something boiling over on the stove, so she said a quick good-bye.
Anna clicked off her phone and sat there on the porch, looking out at the road, feeling not only blue for the heartbreak Mammi Eliza must have suffered so long ago, but also feeling like she’d just been reproached herself—and for absolutely no reason.
I am not falling for an Old Order Amishman! she thought.
Wednesday and Thursday of that week were exceptionally busy with numerous requests for car tours through the back roads of Amish farm
land. Mart sent a text just to say hi and that he was swamped with tourists—and suspected she was, too.
Anna texted back that he was right. Now that harvest was in full swing, out-of-towners were eager to see mule teams out working in the fields and wanted to visit roadside stands where jams, jellies, and homemade Amish root beer were available. Several families had also requested a stop at Kauffman’s Fruit Farm and Market to sample the many varieties of apples, or at Stoltzfus Gourd and Pumpkin Farm, where they could purchase decorative gourds and pumpkins of all sizes. Between her job and volunteering at Peaceful Meadows, Anna had felt like she was living the good life, and she was going to miss the latter now that horse-therapy sessions had ended for the season. Of course, being around little Emmie on Fridays was still one of the high points of the week, as well as seeing Mart now and then.
So, why am I not more content? She tried to dismiss her mother’s phone call as she turned in to Aden and Barbara Mast’s driveway that Friday with Gabe and Emmie along. This time Anna felt more at ease going to Barbara’s home, having talked with her for a number of months now whenever the woman brought Emmie for horse riding therapy.
On their walk up toward the back door, Anna pointed out to Emmie two robins tugging at earthworms in the surrounding grass.
“We’ve got grasshoppers tryin’ to escape from the birds over at our place,” Gabe said, chuckling as he walked with them. “Extra protein, jah?”
Anna wondered if Emmie was understanding any of this. “Hungerich, Emmie?” she asked, not expecting an answer.
Emmie nodded, once more surprising Anna, who was glad Gabe was there to witness it. “I’m hungry, too,” Anna told her, glancing at Gabe, who beamed at them both.
At Barbara’s table, Gabe placed Emmie atop an old dictionary on a chair between Barbara and Anna. Gabe then took the chair up near the head of the table, to Aden’s left. After the silent blessing, Barbara served a generous dish of lazy day lasagna, saying it was a dish her boys especially liked. “One of their favorites, really.”
The Stone Wall Page 20